Pipe-carrier.



T. G. STILES.

PIPE cAmlEa, APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29| 191B.

Patented Jan. i5, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET i.

2 SHEETS-SHEET .2.

Patented' .1 an. 15, 1918.

T. G. STILES.

MPE CARRIER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29| 1916- fm1/en I f p mii/Lof@ ey.

sTaTEs TATENT oTEToE.

THOMAS GEORGE sTrEEs, or aRLrNs'roN, NEW JERSEY, .essreNoa To s'rrLEs COMPANY, 0E ARLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, a

JERSEY.

TEE r. GEO. CORPORATION or NEW PIPE-CARRIER.

rasante.

ToaZZ whom z' may Concern.' Y

Be it known that I, THOMAS GEORGE STILES, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Arlington, in the county of Hudson and State of ANew Jersey, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipe-Carriers, of which the following is a specification.-

This invention relates to pipe-carriers for supporting pipe-rods along railwa i tracks, etc., and the main object Of the invention is to provide an improved pipe-carrier having independent units, preferably interchangeable, in which each pipe-rod is retained in position by an element that is removable without disturbance of any adjacent element for retaining in place another pipe-rod, all other devices of this type with which l am familiar being so constructed that the re-l moval of any individual pipe-retainer cannot be effected Without the removal of a holding device for each of the adjacent piperetaining elements.

Another important feature of my irnproved pipe-carrier is the provision of means for increasing the rigidity and strength of apparatus of this type, while at the same time reducing its cost and reducing also the number of concrete piers of iron foundations required to support the pipe-carriers proper. These and other advantages I secure by mounting the pipe-supporting uprights on a new type of pipe-carrier top, the new top preferably employed by me being a rail supported substantially horizontally and set on edge so as to present the smallest surfa for clogging with snow, ice, dirt, etc., and requiring a supporting foundation of minimum area, while of suoli a nature as to give the maximum of strength and 1igidity. This rail is preferably an angle-iron for the two-fold purpose of obtaining the maximum amount of strength and rigidity as a support for .the elements carried thereby and the minimum surface for proper attachment to the usual foundations of apparatus of this class. An important additional advantage resulting from the use tops for pipe-carriers is that the number of parts and the time required in the construction of new plants, the alteration of existing plants and the maintenance of both, are much less than is the case with the devices heretofore used in pipe-carriers.

Other objects and advantages of the inV Specification of Letters Patent.

of rail or angleiron Patented J an. l5, Mbits..

appucationmea March as, 191s. serial No.- 87,461.

vention willappear inv the following description and are illustrated in the aecompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a multiple pipe-carrier illustrating my present invention and embodying an angle-iron pipe-carrier top mounted on a concrete pier of the usual type.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same.

Fig. t is an end elevation, corresponding to Fig, 3, illustrating one feature of my invention in connection with pipe-supporting uprights mounted on a wood top supported on a concrete pier.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Fig. if with one of the pipe-retainers raised from its bearings as in Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a modified form of the device.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged side elevation of a` portion of one unit of the pipe-carrier, illustrating a pipe-retaining roll mounted in its supporting bearings.

Figs. 8 and 9 are end views, on the same scale, of said roll and one of the bearings.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

Referring first to Figs. l-3 inclusive, l have illustrated in these views all of the various features of the invention hereinbefore set forth, that is to say, the improved pipe-retainer removable independently of every other pipe-retainer and without disturbing any other, the rail or angle-iron top for supporting the uprights that carry the pipes and their retainers, etc.7 and the foundations of small area (and small horizontal cross-section throughout) for supporting said top and the pipe-carrier proper mounted on it.

Considering first that feature of my invention which relates to the retaining of the pipe-rods in place and the removal of individual retainers without disturbance of others, 2 designates aseries of pipe-supporting uprights which preferably have suitable bearings for the usual pipe-supporting rolls or sheaves, 3, represented as curved to conform substantially to the curvature of the pipe-rods 4t to be carried thereby. At their upper ends the uprights 2 preferablyT have open-top half-bearings, such as 5, for re ceiving suitable pipe-retaining devices. So far as just describd these elements of the pipe-carrier have the general characteristics of these parts as found in pipe-carriers in general use.

In various specific respects, however, certain of these parts will be modified, as compared with the corresponding devices of the art, when adapted for the embodiment of the new features of my pipe-retainer. The half-bearings 5 in this construction are intended to receive the end portions of individual pipe-retaining elements, such as pipe-retaining rolls 6. These pipe-retainers preferably embody a main part or roll from the ends of which project elements, such as '7, constituting practically trunnions supporting the pipe-retainers 6 in the halfbearings 5. Each of these retainers is intended to be supported in said bearings in suoli a manner that it can be readily removed without disturbance of either of the corresponding retainers at opposite sides thereof. While this may be accomplished in various ways the units 6-7 are here so constructed as to be not only in horizontal alinement with each other in the series but also in end-to-end abutment without overlapping. Thus not more than one-half of the length of each bearing 5 is appropriated to any one supporting element or trunnion 'Y and the remaining portion of said bearing is appropriated to another of the elements 7. Suitable means are employed for maintaining the retaining units 67 in place in their bearings, the construction shown being one in which each unit is held in place by two Cotter-pins, 8, passing through openings, 9, extending transversely into or through the side walls of the bearings 5 and also extending in this case through recesses, 10, cut in the sides of the trunnions 7 `When the pipe-retainer is in place in its bearings it will be found that it will only be necessary to pass a pair of cotterpins through the appropriate holes and recesses 9 and 10 to lock said retainer firmly in place, and that when it is desired to remove said retainer from its bearings it is merely necessary to withdraw said Cotter-pins and then raise the retainer vertically as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5.

By means of the construction just described any number of pipe-carriers constituting independent units, and preferably interchangeable units, may be assembled in a series and any one or more of the piperetainers removed without disturbanceV of any other one if it is desired for any reason to get at a pipe-rod as in renewal or repair work.

The second important feature of my invention embodied in the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 3 inclusive is, stated, the means for supporting the individual uprights 2 and for increasing the strength and rigidity of the tops on which for i as before the pipe-carriers proper are mounted. The principal element of the preferred means employed for this purpose is a metallic rail disposed substantially horizontally and set on edge so as to present the minimum surface horizontally for the accumulation of snow, dirt, etc., and for clogging thereby. lsually this metallic rail will be in the form of an angle-bar of L shape, the two parts of this angle-bar being usually just wide enough to perform their functions properly without presenting surfaces of unnecessary width. This is important not only for the reason just stated but also because with an angle-bar having a comparatively narrow horizontal web a foundation correspondingly narrow may be employed. Here said foundation is of concrete, iron or other suitable material. Tn Figs. 1-3 inclusive 11 designates the vertical web or rail proper, to which the supporting uprights 2 are intended to be secured, and 12 designates the lorizontal web extending therefrom in the angle-bar illustrated. It will be noticed that the vertical web of this angle-bar, that is the bar proper, is bored at regular intervals, as indicated at 13, this being for the purpose of passingsuitable fastening devices, such as bolts, 14, through said bar and therebyl securing the uprights 2 to said bar or rail, suitable tightening nuts, 15, are shown in connection with the bolts 14.

In the construction illustrated in the iirst three views it will be noticed kthat the uprights 2 have substantially vertical faces for engagement with and attachment to the corresponding vertical faces of the bar 11. This of course gives a construction in which the minimum horizontal surface is presented for the accumulation of snow, ice, dirt, etc., and consequent clogging of the parts. The preferred construction is one in which ea ch of the uprights 2 is forked at its lower end, as indicated at 16, and straddles the bar or rail 11, so that it has a considerable extent of bearing surface at the sides of the bar in addition to that at the top edge of the bar, the construction being such that a single bolt, such as 14, is sufficient to hold each upright firmly in its proper position. There of course a corresponding ease and simplicity in the operations of attaching said uprights to and detaching them from said bar, the amount of time required being practically the least possible for the purpose, no superfluous parts being employed and no special adjustments beiner required.

An important advantage resulting from the employment of a bar or rail, such as the angle-bar 11--12, is that it may be made long enough to extend crosswise of its pier or foundation (and crosswise of the tracks) considerable distances beyond the edges of its immediate support. This is due to its great rigidity; and in turn the additional length of pipe-carrier top thus obtained permits the substantially indefinite eXtension of the elements of the pipe-carrier in multiple lengthwise of said bar (and cross Wise of the track) to accommodate addi* tional pipe-rods as these become necessary. It will be seen from Fig. 1 that it will only be necessary to add the necessary parts and fasten the upright or uprights 2 thereof in place by one or more bolts passing through the corresponding hole or holes 13 in the bar 11 to bring about the addition of anther unit or units at any given point on the line of way.

By referring to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the web 12 is comparatively narrow and that it therefore requires a pier or foundation having only a small supporting area. Such a pier or foundation of concrete is indicated at 17, the top surface thereof being designated by 18 and being but little wider than the web 12 itself. A very great saving in the size and cost of a concrete or other pier or foundation results from malring the pipe-carrier tops in angle-bar form as illustrated in Fig. 3. This will be clear by comparing said construction with that shown in Fig. 4l, the details of which will be hereinafter described. The angle-bar 11-12 may be held to its pier or foundation in any suitable manner, as for example by threaded rods, 19, passed through holes in the web 12 and bent at their lower ends and embedded in the concrete of the pier 17. Suitable nuts are illustrated at 20 for fastening the angle-bar securely to the upper side of said pier. Of course any suitable mode of connection may be employed but that illustrated involves a minimum number of parts and holds the angle-bar securely in place.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 I have illustrated the application of the first feature o f my invention hereinbefore described, viz., the retaining devices, to

structures of a type heretofore generally used for supporting pipe-carriers. In these views the piperetainers`are identical in construction with those heretofore described, as are also the uprights, their supporting sheaves and the upper portions of the uprights with their half-bearings, etc., and all of these parts are designated by the same reference characters hereinbefore used. The lower portions of the uprights 2 are, however, of a different type from the lower portions of the uprights previously described, they being illustrated as having spreading feet, 21, extending a considerable distance crosswise of the pier on which they are mounted. These uprights are shown as secured directly to wooden tops, 22, which in turn are fastened to a concrete foundation or pier, 23, by threaded bolts or rods, 24,

bent at their lower ends and embedded in the concrete in the same manner as described in connection with the parts 19, suitable nuts, 25, being shown for clamping the parts together. It will be seen that with uprights of the type shown in these two views a very wide supporting surface is required as compared with the width of the corresponding surface in Fig. 3 and that there is a correspondingly larger area for the accumulation of snow, ice, dirt, etc., and consequent clogging of the parts. In addition the concrete pier constituting the foundation of the apparatus is very much larger and more costlv than the pier shown at 17. These views illustrate, however, the point that the independent-unit feature of my improved pipe-carrier is applicable, with the pipe-retainers, Cotter-pins, etc., to the old types of apparatus including the old pipe-carriers, tops and foundations or piers, as well as to the new type having tops and piers or foundations of the type illustrated in Figs. 1-3 inclusive.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated another form of structure showing how a modified independent-unit pipe-retainer may be mounted on the same type of angle-bar pipe-carrier top as before described and the whole supported on an iron foundation of the kind now in general use. In these views 26 illustrates the uprights, which at their lower ends are of the same construction as in Figs. 1-3 inclusive, the parts being designated by c.orresponding reference characters, and are connected as in said views to angle-bars in the manner before shown and described. At their upper ends, however, instead of having the successive pairs of bearings for the piperetainers in series the elements of the successive pairs are disposed in parallelism alternating with each other, and the successive retainers 27 though overlapping, are separately removable from their bearings by the removal of the Cotter-pins without the removal of one disturbing in any way either of the adjacent retainers.

The foundation shown in Fig. 6, at 28, is an iron one intended to support a relatively wide wooden top, such as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Here however, an angle-bar top, 11-12, is applied thereto at one side of the iron foundation in such a manner that a much smaller surface for the accumu lation of snow, etc., is presented than is the case when a wood top of several times the width of the web 12 is employed. This angle-bar is secured in place in substantially the same manner as the other tops, threaded bolts, 29, and nuts, 30, being shown for this purpose.

What I claim is:

1. In a pipe-carrier. the combination with a foundation, of a substantially horizontal angle-bar one element of which is secured to said foundation and the other of which is disposed substantially vertically, said anglebar being secured to said foundation in suoli a manner that a Considerable portion of it extends beyond said foundation, and multiple pipe-supporting uprights secured to the vertical element of the angle-bar at different points in the length thereof.

2. In a pipe-carrier, the combination with a foundation having a narrow supporting surface, of a narrow angle-bar one web `of which rests upon and is approximately the width of said supporting surface and the other web of which is disposed substantially vertically, pipe-supporting uprights secured to said vertical web at different points in the length thereof, and means carried by said uprights for supporting pipes and retaining them in place.

3. In a pipe carrier, the combination with a foundation, of a thin Vertical web carried by and extending upwardly therefrom, and pipe supporting uprights secured to said web and extending upwardly therefrom.

4. In a pipe carrier, the combination with a foundation, of a thin Vertical web removably secured thereto, pipe supporting uprights having forked lower ends straddling the web and means passing through the web and uprights for securing the latter in place.

5. In a pipe Carrier, the combination with a foundatiomof a thin Vertical web removably secured thereto, pipe supporting uprights having downwardly extending spaced vertical ears arranged on opposite sides of the web, and `means passing4 through the web and through the ears for securing the uprights to the web.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 27th day of March.I A. D. 1916.

THOMAS GEORGE STILES.

Copies of lthis patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

